T-Mobile may have a million iPhones running on its network, but they're all crawling along at slow EDGE speeds. That's going to change over the next several months as the carrier "refarms" 3G spectrum to become more compatible with AT&T-specced phones.

Where better to test that than the iPhone scrum known as the Apple Worldwide Developers' Conference? T-Mobile confirmed to 9to5Mac yesterday that it'll turn on 1900Mhz HSPA+ "inside the west side of the Moscone Center" where the event will be held this coming Monday, although the company added that "the time and location of this test is just coincidental."

Yeah, right.

T-Mobile's refarming won't just help iPhone owners. T-Mobile's 1700Mhz AWS spectrum is supported by fewer devices than the more mainstream 1900Mhz band, so unlocked Android phones that couldn't hit 3G on T-Mobile before will finally be able to do so.

Few of those phones will be able to achieve T-Mobile's full "4G" speeds, though, because the phones' own modems aren't fast enough. T-Mobile's network runs at HSPA+ 42, but the iPhone plugs along at a relatively sedate HSPA 14.4. I'd expect 2-4Mbps download speeds on an iPhone, as compared to around 8Mbps on an HSPA+ 42 phone like the HTC One S.

T-Mobile still isn't selling subsidized iPhones, but the entry of Cricket and Virgin Mobile into the iPhone world may start to convince Americans that it's worth paying more up front for much lower plan prices.

A factory-unlocked, 16GB iPhone 4S iPhone from Apple's website costs $649, the same price as Virgin Mobile is charging. For heavy data and light voice users, T-Mobile offers a no-contract "monthly 4G" plan with 100 voice minutes, unlimited texting and 5GB of data for $30 per month. Virgin's competitive $30 per month plan has 300 voice minutes, but only 2.5GB of data.

T-Mobile's unlimited talk and text plan with 2GB of data costs $60 per month; Virgin offers a similar plan with 2.5GB of data for $55.

T-Mobile's data is much faster, though. Virgin runs on Sprint's network, which we've clocked in the past at only about 400kbps in many locations.

The carrier aims to launch 1900Mhz service in "a large number of markets" by the end of the year, it told PCMag.com last month.

About the Author

PCMag.com's lead mobile analyst, Sascha Segan, has reviewed hundreds of smartphones, tablets and other gadgets in more than 13 years with PCMag. He's the head of our Fastest Mobile Networks project, hosts our One Cool Thing daily Web show, and writes opinions on tech and society.
Segan is also a multiple award-winning travel writer. Other than ... See Full Bio

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